MLB Opening Weekend Betting Odds
Typically, late July of the MLB season would be on the heels of the All-Star festivities, the trade deadline would be looming and the push for the postseason would be in full force. However, 2020 is unlike any other year, as July 23 will be Opening Day for baseball and it’ll be a sprint to the finish in a shortened 60-game season. There will be two games on the 23rd followed by 14 games on the 24th and we have the full list of betting odds for those two dates.
Online sportsbook Bovada has released the betting lines for the opening days with the Dodgers being the largest favorite at -300 over the visiting Giants, while the AL Central clash between the Twins and White Sox have the tightest odds, listed as a pick ‘em with both clubs coming in at -110.
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Thursday, July 23rd, MLB Betting Odds
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | Gerrit Cole | -1.5 (+120) | -142 | O 7.5 (-110) |
| Washington Nationals | Max Scherzer | +1.5 (-140) | +122 | U 7.5 (-110) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | Johnny Cueto | +1.5 (+125) | +250 | O 8.0 (-105) |
| LA Dodgers | Clayton Kershaw | -1.5 (-145) | -300 | U 8.0 (-115) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
Friday, July 24th, MLB Betting Odds
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Tigers | Matt Boyd | +1.5 (-130) | +157 | O 8.0 (-120) |
| Cincinnati Reds | Sonny Gray | -1.5 (+110) | -182 | U 8.0 (EVEN) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Blue Jays | Hyun-Jin Ryu | +1.5 (-150) | +142 | O 7.0 (-115) |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Charlie Morton | -1.5 (+130) | -164 | U 7.0 (-105) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Marlins | Sandy Alcantara | +1.5 (-125) | +168 | O 8.5 (-105) |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Aaron Nola | -1.5 (+105) | -195 | U 8.5 (-115) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | Danny Duffy | +1.5 (-110) | +190 | O 8.5 (EVEN) |
| Cleveland Indians | Shane Bieber | -1.5 (-110) | -220 | U 8.5 (-120) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | Brandon Woodruff | +1.5 (-180) | +108 | O 8.5 (-105) |
| Chicago Cubs | Kyle Hendricks | -1.5 (+160) | -128 | U 8.5 (-115) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Orioles | John Means | +1.5 (-115) | +167 | O 9.5 (EVEN) |
| Boston Red Sox | Nathan Eovaldi | -1.5 (-105) | -194 | U 9.5 (-120) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rockies | German Marquez | +1.5 (-165) | +110 | O 9.0 (-125) |
| Texas Rangers | Lance Lynn | -1.5 (+145) | -130 | U 9.0 (+105) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | Jose Berrios | +1.5 (-190) | -110 | O 8.5 (EVEN) |
| Chicago White Sox | Lucas Giolito | -1.5 (+165) | -110 | U 8.5 (-120) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Joe Musgrove | +1.5 (-120) | +170 | O 7.5 (-120) |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Jack Flaherty | -1.5 (EVEN) | -200 | U 7.5 (EVEN) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Madison Bumgarner | +1.5 (-180) | +108 | O 8.0 (-115) |
| San Diego Padres | Chris Paddack | -1.5 (+160) | -128 | U 8.0 (-105) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners | Marco Gonzales | +1.5 (+120) | +245 | O 7.5 (-120) |
| Houston Astros | Justin Verlander | -1.5 (-140) | -295 | U 7.5 (EVEN) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
| Team | Starter | Runline | Moneyline | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Angels | Andrew Heaney | +1.5 (-160)) | +124 | O 8.5 (-110) |
| Oakland Athletics | Frankie Montas | -1.5 (+140) | -144 | U 8.5 (-110) |
Odds as of July 21 at Bovada
MLB Opening Weekend Picks
New York Yankees -1.5 (+120) vs Washington Nationals
It is the first game of the season and how can you not have a bet on it. My colleague Gilles Gallant has gone all-in on the UNDER in this game with a fantastic starting pitcher matchup in Gerrit Cole making his debut for the Pinstripes, while "Mad" Max Scherzer hurls the ball for the defending World Series champion Nationals.
Max Scherzer – Last 5 Seasons - First Start of Year:
3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS, 1-4 O/U
6 total ER, 17 hits allowed.
Avg. Combined Final Score: 5.6UNDER 7.5 runs (-110) for Nats-Yanks on Opening Night is the bet to make.
— Gilles Gallant (@GDAWG5000) July 17, 2020
I’m less bullish on the total because of Scherzer and the appearance of him being human last year, posting some of the worst numbers of his career (fewest innings since second season, highest WHIP in five years, most hits/9 IP in five years and highest ERA in three years). For that, going against perhaps the best offense in baseball, I think New York is going to jump on him and cruise to a decisive victory and cash in on the runline.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals OVER 7.5 (-120)
To start, betting on a Jack Flaherty (STL) start to go OVER may not exactly be the wisest decision as the young 24-year-old is coming off his sophomore season in which he had a remarkable 2.75 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
However, it is the man on the other side that I’m fading. Joe Musgrove (PIT) has never had a season with an ERA lower than four, sitting at 4.44 last season with 1.22 WHIP. He got the ball four times vs St. Louis in 2019, sporting an 0-4 record with a 10.00 ERA, surrendering 20 earned runs over 18 innings. The Pirates may get a couple against the Cards, but Musgrove may get shelled to carry the OVER.
Chicago White Sox (-110) vs Minnesota Twins
Perhaps I’ve drunk the preseason juice the White Sox are blending together, but I truly believe this team is on the cusp of being a contender. Despite winning just six of the 19 contests with the Twins last season and being outscored 125-65 over that span, I think the meetings this year will be a lot more competitive.
Yoan Moncada had a career high 25 home runs last season, Eloy Jimenez finished fourth in rookie of the year voting in 2019 and he smacked 31 dingers, which were second on the team behind Jose Abreu. Add in the 2020 AL rookie of the year favorite Luis Robert and 26-year-old ace Lucas Giolito, who finished sixth in 2019 AL Cy Young voting, I think they can turn heads fast and why not start against their divisional rivals, the Twins.
